Are there any bands from that time period that your parents played that you really liked?

Well, there's Def Leppard of course and then Rush is my favorite band of all time thanks to my dad playing Moving Pictures for me when I was around 5 or 6. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Watchtower, Steely Dan, Savatage, Dire Straits, Queensryche, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Yes, Boston, Styx, Chicago, Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Bad Company, ELP, Van Halen, Crimson Glory, Scorpions, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., and Loverboy were the ones that either my Mom or Dad or both listened to when I was growing up that I remember really enjoying. Still love all those bands.

There were a few that never clicked with me though. Like Nightranger, Tesla, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc....

Are there any bands from that time period that your parents played that you really liked?

Well, there's Def Leppard of course and then Rush is my favorite band of all time thanks to my dad playing Moving Pictures for me when I was around 5 or 6. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Watchtower, Steely Dan, Savatage, Dire Straits, Queensryche, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Yes, Boston, Styx, Chicago, Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Bad Company, ELP, Van Halen, Crimson Glory, Scorpions, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., and Loverboy were the ones that either my Mom or Dad or both listened to when I was growing up that I remember really enjoying. Still love all those bands.

There were a few that never clicked with me though. Like Nightranger, Tesla, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc....

Are there any bands from that time period that your parents played that you really liked?

Well, there's Def Leppard of course and then Rush is my favorite band of all time thanks to my dad playing Moving Pictures for me when I was around 5 or 6. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Watchtower, Steely Dan, Savatage, Dire Straits, Queensryche, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Yes, Boston, Styx, Chicago, Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Bad Company, ELP, Van Halen, Crimson Glory, Scorpions, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., and Loverboy were the ones that either my Mom or Dad or both listened to when I was growing up that I remember really enjoying. Still love all those bands.

There were a few that never clicked with me though. Like Nightranger, Tesla, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc....

Well Nightranger blows.

That's a hell of a band list to hear from your parents.

My parents played the Beach Boys, Johnny Mathis, and Barry Manilow!

Yeah, I never understood my mom's fascination with Nightranger. But yeah, that is quite a list of awesome bands, now that I look back on it. To be fair, my parents also liked country music back then (still do to some extent, especially my dad) and then really like stuff like Michael Jackson and Prince, and stuff like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

I heartily applaud the selection of Power Windows. I got it pretty recently and haven't had enough listens for it to settle in, but I'm definitely enjoying it. And Grace Under Pressure is a top 3 Rush album for me, so this is definitely an era of Rush that I enjoy.

One thing you sort of mentioned in your writeup that I want to state my take on: I think that Geddy's voice sounds best in this era. It seems to fit this type of music better than the rockier stuff, and he uses it tastefully instead of doing the screeching of the earlier eras.

Something I cannot endorse, though, is Caress of Steel. Bastille Day is great and Lakeside Park is good, and that's it.

Power Windows, Hemispheres, and Counterparts are my top 3 Rush albums (not sure after that, although GUP and Permanent Waves are up there). Caress of Steel rocks imo - I really like both of the epics, Lakeside Park is a gem, Bastille Day is nice, and the bald song is just fun. I guess that song, and the length of the other two can be offputting, but I love that album.

Power Windows is probably the Rush album I listen to most often, and is definitely in my top 3 with Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves. For me, it sums up everything about the 80's both in terms of the sounds on the record and the lyrical themes. And, it's probably Neil's best drum performance.

Are there any bands from that time period that your parents played that you really liked?

Well, there's Def Leppard of course and then Rush is my favorite band of all time thanks to my dad playing Moving Pictures for me when I was around 5 or 6. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Watchtower, Steely Dan, Savatage, Dire Straits, Queensryche, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Yes, Boston, Styx, Chicago, Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Bad Company, ELP, Van Halen, Crimson Glory, Scorpions, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., and Loverboy were the ones that either my Mom or Dad or both listened to when I was growing up that I remember really enjoying. Still love all those bands.

There were a few that never clicked with me though. Like Nightranger, Tesla, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc....

Nope, not me. That's as firm as a paternity test right there. I still go see Night Ranger whenever they come to town. And there's no Rainbow, Deep Purple or Cinderella on that list.

Power Windows, Hemispheres, and Counterparts are my top 3 Rush albums (not sure after that, although GUP and Permanent Waves are up there). Caress of Steel rocks imo - I really like both of the epics, Lakeside Park is a gem, Bastille Day is nice, and the bald song is just fun. I guess that song, and the length of the other two can be offputting, but I love that album.

The best is yet to come! This is merely 41!

Stand your ground! Caress isn't as bad as many - including the band - make it out to be. It's certainly better than Grace Under Pressure. What a debacle that is.

Power Windows, Hemispheres, and Counterparts are my top 3 Rush albums (not sure after that, although GUP and Permanent Waves are up there). Caress of Steel rocks imo - I really like both of the epics, Lakeside Park is a gem, Bastille Day is nice, and the bald song is just fun. I guess that song, and the length of the other two can be offputting, but I love that album.

The best is yet to come! This is merely 41!

Stand your ground! Caress isn't as bad as many - including the band - make it out to be. It's certainly better than Grace Under Pressure. What a debacle that is.

I hope you turn around on GUP one day but I get why you don't like it. I think it's really good!

No, no, you're all mixed up. A Farewell to Kings blows. Not Power Windows.

EDIT: #40 a bit later. We're starting to get into "deeply meaningful and impactful" territory. Transitioning to that most cheesy layer of sentimentality. #40 is perfectly balanced, as all things should be...

AFTK is my #4 AOTY, so yeah. Mike's getting a cunt-punch when we ever meet.

And one for me. Hemispheres was always at that spot, but I got the 40th anniversary edition or whatever it is and listened to it on a drive across Florida at 11:30 at night a couple weeks ago, and it was one of the best listening experiences of my entire life. That is one strong album.

The 5.1 version on the box sets is pretty strong too (and Rush 5.1's generally are not good).

Welcome to Katt's Top 50 Most Disappointing Albums! Today's pick, "A Farewell To Kings" by Rush. Looking at the tracklist now. Title track? Freaking yawn. Xanadu? The best thing here, not bad, just too long, and not a great chorus (sue me). Closer to the Heart is inoffensive but I am just annoyed by it and sick of hearing it. Cinderella Man and Madrigal are boring. Cygnus is boring as well and too long.

I know it's very popular and revered by most Rush fans. I just don't see why. It doesn't have much of anything I really love about the band. I want to like it but I can't.